Can you take Trazodone in the morning? 

In this brief article, we will answer whether you can take Trazodone in the morning and discuss other considerations, such as what to do if you want to take an antidepressant in the morning or if you accidentally took Trazodone in the morning. We will also address what to do if you forget to take Trazodone at the time indicated by your doctor, and the most common adverse effects of this medication.  

It’s not recommended to take high doses of Trazodone in the morning due to potential side effects, such as drowsiness and impaired psychomotor functions (1,2,3).

Talk to your healthcare provider and inquire about dividing the daily dose if you are interested in taking Trazodone in the morning. 

If you forget to take your prescribed dose of Trazodone, take it as soon as you remember. Make sure you don’t engage in any activity that requires your full mental attention if you take this medication in the morning and feel drowsy or experiencing psychomotor impairments.

Trazodone can cause additional adverse effects, beyond those mentioned above and should be used with caution in certain patient groups (2,4,5).

Can I take Trazodone in the morning? 

It’s not recommended to take high doses of Trazodone in the morning. However, your doctor may indicate the administration of a low dose in the morning or a divided dosage twice a day, with one dose taken in the morning.  

The side effects of Trazodone may vary depending on the dosage and from person to person, with drowsiness being the most common (1,2). Thus, this antidepressant has also been used for the management of insomnia. 

Studies in this context suggest that the use of high doses of Trazodone may also affect your psychomotor functions (1,3). 

Therefore, make sure not to continue taking Trazodone in the morning if you experience sleepiness or if it impairs your psychomotor functions.

What to do if you want to take your antidepressant in the morning? 

If you want to take Trazodone in the morning, talk to your healthcare provider and inquire about divided daily doses or request a non-sedating antidepressant that you can take in the morning (2,4). 

What to do if you accidentally took Trazodone in the morning?

If your doctor has prescribed Trazodone to be taken at night, and you have accidentally taken it in the morning, make sure you don’t engage in any activity that requires your full mental attention if you are feeling drowsy or experiencing psychomotor impairments (2). 

What to do if you forget to take Trazodone at the time indicated by your doctor?

If you forget to take your prescribed dose of Trazodone, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s nearly time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one (5).

Make sure you don’t engage in any activity that requires your full mental attention if you are feeling drowsy or experiencing psychomotor impairments after taking Trazodone.

Can you take Trazodone in the morning if you work at night?

You can take trazodone in the morning if you work at night and don’t engage in activities that require your full attention during the day.

However, Trazodone should only be taken if prescribed by your healthcare provider. 

Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that the use of Trazodone is contraindicated with concomitant use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or within 14 days of discontinuing MAOIs.

This medication also should be used with caution in the following situations (2):

• Concomitant use with other serotonin reuptake-modulating medications;
• Concomitant use with aspirin, warfarin, and other platelet aggregation; inhibitors, other anticoagulants, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs);
• Use by individuals with cardiac diseases;
• Use by patients with bipolar disorder;
• Use by patients with untreated anatomically narrow angles;

Are the adverse effects of Trazodone increased when taken in the morning? 

No, the timing of Trazodone intake does not affect the intensity of adverse effects. But, in order to achieve the best efficacy of the treatment, this medication should be taken at the same time consistently.

One factor that can influence the intensity of unwanted reactions is the dosage. However, each person is unique and responds differently to treatment.

In this context, the most common side effects of trazodone include (2,5):

• Weakness, tiredness or drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Headache
• Acid reflux
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Blurred vision
• Nightmares
• Sexual side effects
• Tired, red, or itchy eyes
• Increased appetite

Trazodone may also cause rare but potentially serious side effects, such as:

• Serotonin syndrome: a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when there is too much serotonin in the brain. Symptoms include confusion, agitation, fever, sweating, tremors, and muscle rigidity.
• Orthostatic hypotension: a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up or move your position.
• Priapism: a prolonged and painful erection that can occur in men.

If you start experiencing any of the serious side effects, talk to your doctor.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have answered whether you can take Trazodone in the morning and discuss other considerations, such as what to do if you want to take an antidepressant in the morning or if you accidentally took Trazodone in the morning. We also answered what to do if you forget to take Trazodone at the time indicated by your doctor, and the most common adverse effects of this medication. 

References